JASMINE TRIAS: HOME IS
WHERE THE 'IDOL' IS
[HOMECOMING:
‘American Idol’ finalist Jasmine Trias, endorser of SMART Communications’
international direct dial services, arrives at the NAIA yesterday. - Photo by
Rudy Santos ]
MANILA, October 7 , 2004 (STAR) By Ann Montemar-Oriondo - She’s home at last and the reception couldn’t be warmer — nor more frenzied.
"American Idol" third placer Jasmine Trias, who became an overnight sensation in the Philippines as she did in the US with her "Idol" feat, arrived in the birthplace of her parents for the first time yesterday morning aboard Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR-502 that landed at around 1:25 p.m. from Singapore.
Wearing denim jeans, a white blouse and blue and white jacket, Trias was accompanied by her father, Rodolfo Trias Jr. They were met by executives from telecommunications giant SMART and by officials of the Manila International Airport Authority led by retired Gen. Angel Atutubo, assistant general manager for security and emergency services.
Trias and her father were surrounded by members of the Airport Police Department of the Manila International Airport Authority and private security personnel of the organizers. The two were safely led into the van of SMART Communications parked just outside the airport terminal but not after almost being crushed by a mob of reporters and fans who repeatedly asked questions and took photos and videos of Jasmine.
From the airport, Jasmine graced a press conference organized by SMART, whose international direct dialing services Jasmine is endorsing via a TV ad that celebrates the warmth and love that telephone calls foster among overseas Filipino workers and their families back home.
The 17-year-old Trias, a descendant of the illustrious Caviteńo revolutionary Gen. Mariano Trias, attracted a horde of photographers as soon as she strode onstage and sat down at the press conference held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City.
Beaming and showing nary a trace of fatigue, Trias revealed that she had not known what to expect when she came to the Philippines. Hence, she said she was overwhelmed by the "whole paparazzi experience" at the airport.
"It was crazy," she related with a smile. "Everyone was trying to say ‘hi’ to me!"
Trias revealed that the one Filipino trait that has served her well on her road to success has been "being proud of who you are, your ethnicity, your culture." As a Filipino growing up in Hawaii which she described as "a big melting pot of ethnicity," Trias recalled interacting with a lot of Filipinos and thus learning a lot about her culture. "I’m proud to be Filipino," she added, "and proud to be representing Filipinos."
Although she said that she really does not think about her "American Idol" show anymore ("I have moved on"), Trias acknowledged that her stint on the show helped her gain confidence, become more sociable, and overcome her natural shyness.
Asked what situations make the admittedly shy Trias nervous, the singer, who will turn 18 on Nov. 3, replied, "Being in front of a lot of people I don’t know — like right now!"
Trias also graciously declined to answer a query about her private life. "(My) special someone?" she said. "I don’t know... I don’t know ... Next question!"
When asked how good a contestant one must be to make it in Idol, Trias responded that it was not so much as talent but possessing "the X-factor, how you carry yourself — the whole package — that matters."
Though she admitted that she understood Filipino "very well" but was still "rusty when speaking" the language, Trias welcomed the idea of recording an all-OPM album. She revealed that among the Pilipino songs she knows are "Mula Sa Puso," "Ako ay Pilipino," "Mr. DJ," "Pangako Sa ‘Yo" and "Maalala Mo Kaya."
Sharing that she hoped to go international with her singing career, the high school graduate added that she envisioned a career flying to New York, Los Angeles, the Philippines or elsewhere for work while being based in Hawaii.
Part of Trias’ 10-day visit to the Philippines, during which she expressed hope that she could see the country’s beautiful beaches, is her Oct. 16 invitational concert organized by SMART at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City entitled "Jasmine Trias: Fil-American Idol Live in Manila."
Jay-R, Erik Santos and Christian Bautista will also perform in the show. — With Sandy Araneta